Broken (sequel to Caught)

Wait

"Legolas...Legolas, wake up, mellon-nin..."

Legolas groaned, his mouth opening slightly, and he squeezed his eyes together as if refusing to open them.

"Come on, Legolas, I know you're awake."

Legolas opened his eyes a slit and closed them again immediately as they were blinded by the light. He opened them again, more slowly this time, and squinted until they adjusted enough to let him see Elrond leaning over him.

"Elrond..." he murmured, not feeling as if he recovered any strength whatsoever even though it was like he had been sleeping for years.

"Legolas. I'm sorry for waking you, but you need to eat."

"Not...hungry..." Legolas moaned, but Elrond was already putting a plate of food on his lap. He rolled his neck, which was extremely stiff from sleeping sitting up, but he supposed it was necessary. He shuddered at the thought of almost drowning in his own blood again. He looked around and saw that Elladan, Elrohir, and his Ada were in the room as well.

He reached out with a shaking hand to take the spoon and gritted his teeth in frustration as he lifted it and found it took every ounce of his strength.

Why was he so weak?

He lifted the spoon to his mouth and cursed inwardly as his hand shook so badly that the broth in it spilled on his chest and rolled down it.

"Here, let me help you—" Thranduil began, but Legolas cut him off.

"No!"

Thranduil flinched back, and Elrond and the twins also looked surprised. There was a moment of tense silence which Legolas finally interrupted with a soft apology.

"I'm sorry...it's just I am so tired of being weak all the time. I just want to be how I was before all of this happened..." Legolas murmured, and Thranduil's eyes softened as he realized that Legolas was not only talking about the sea-longing, but also about everything that happened with Cyras.

"You will be. These things just take time to heal, and you haven't had much. Just let us help you until you're all well again, then you can do all your independent...stuff," he finished, unable to think of another word for everything Legolas did. Legolas smiled weakly and put the spoon down. Thranduil reached to pick it up, but his son pushed his hand away gently.

"I'm serious. I'm really not hungry," Legolas said. Elrond frowned and put a hand on the young elf's forehead. The lines of worry on his face deepened.

"You're burning up," he told Legolas, who merely sighed in response and closed his eyes briefly. His hand slowly rose up to his chest, which he rubbed gently and winced. Elrond was interrogating him a moment later.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, it just...aches a little," said Legolas, dropping his hand. He frowned as Thranduil took the spoon and held it up near his face.

"Come on, ion-nin. You've been asleep for three days. You need to eat."

"Three days?" Legolas said, and he was interrupted by a yawn at the end of the sentence. Elladan and Elrohir smiled at him.

"Yes," Elrohir said. "But if you're still tired, you can go to sleep after you eat."

Legolas frowned, going slightly cross-eyed as he looked at the spoon that Thranduil was still holding near his mouth. Sighing, he opened his mouth a little, and Thranduil took the chance to pour the broth in. Legolas swallowed slowly, and when he felt no nausea he took the next bite. He still wasn't hungry, but at least he wasn't feeling sick.